Bound by commitments of time, what we know, the physical, and the social, we bump into invisible barricades, most of them created by our imagination. Traveling unlocks these shackles and we leave them hanging on the concrete walls of our lives. We experience a new kind of freedom. Our boundaries expand.

Overwhelmed by choices, we fill our time with adventure. Our senses soak up the vibrant colors and patterns while we inhale the delicate and sweet, the acrid and the pungent. Days blend with the sounds of busy city life to seagulls calling from above the crashing ocean. This new place responds to our touch and we rush to what it has to offer.

We continue to an island where the ocean breathes around us. We are bound by its enormity and yet the sky holds no limitations. I sit in peace while listening to my heartbeat. No schedules, only sun and sand and surf. And still the clock ticks.

Time continues to diminish and our remaining freedom binds us. The last day is spent in a frenzy of activity. We try to slow it down and become aware of each moment. We capture the slant of the sun, the whispering of the wind, the laughter of a child and cradle them in our memories for the days to come.

Courtney escapes through a window from the Oldest Tavern in the US – The Bell in Hand.

Soon we are back at home shackled once again, but our boundaries provide structure for our lives. Somehow these exotic locations have warped our walls and have changed the way we see the landscape. We remember those fleeting days when time stretched out and familiar boundaries disappeared as we absorbed the new. Somehow, it became a part of us.

I think we do try to cram every last minute of fun into our vacations, because we don’t want them to end. Yes, I always see my world a little bit different (okay, a lot differently) when I return from a trip away. Yet, I welcome the familiar surroundings when I return. But those confinement and responsibilities always seem to give way to the idea of another adventure in time. For some reason I am fascinated with Patagonia.

Do you mean Patagonia, Chile or the store??? 🙂
I love the way everything looks a little different when arriving home and the planning of another trip too. But there is nothing like climbing into my own bed….zzzzzzzzzzzzz…..

Oh Patagonia, Chili for sure. Not that I wouldn’t mind visiting, Patagonia Clothing, nothing wrong with their threads. And your so right, Susie, when it comes to getting some zzz’s, there is nothing like being in ones own bed for getting a good nights sleep. 😀

Courtney escaping through a window says it all for me–gorgeous photo essay, Susie! I’ve inverted the proportions so that now I live life as if I’m always on vacation with a little work now and then to take a break from it, LOL!

That’s the way to do it, Gail! It doesn’t take much to get out of a routine to change my perspective on life.

That part of the bar was practically empty compared to the main entry which was packed with people listening to a band and waiting in line for the DJ upstairs. So we escaped out the window!
Thanks so much. 🙂

Perfect timing, Susie – we just returned from a two-week trip to Prague, Vienna and Budapest. Yes, we see our world very differently after each vacation we’ve taken. This one especially struck me, first because of the castles that are centuries old, and second because of the Syrian refugees we saw in Vienna. Masses of them, fleeing their country, forced to wait for hours in a train station until they could leave. It really was eye-opening. The only thing that keeps us from escaping more often is money. 🙂 Otherwise, I’d like to go to Cuba, Spain, and back to Venice. The list never ends!!

I love the way you wrote this post and could totally hear it in the voice of one of those 3AM live radio show hosts when they rattle off a monologue about whatever in their smooth, soothing and hypnotizing voice… ❤
Diana xo

Beautifully crafted.Taking in the sights and sounds and smells around us is an art form, too often lost on too many of us. I’ve concentrated at doing this for much of my life, often at the expense of more material accomplishments. Somehow, though, I’m not sorry about it.

Awesome post, Susie. The writing paired with the photos had a beautiful fluidity to it. Mathair and I wish we could travel, but it seems like there’s always something throwing a wrench in the plans. lol Mathair has had her heart set on Paris for years while my dream is to visit Ireland. Hopefully one day we can see those places. Of course, I’m a bit of a hermit and have been known go through detoxes if i’m not sleeping in MY bed at MY apartment. 😉 Have a great week, Susie.

Thanks so much, Inion N. Mathair!
I have been having fun writing these. They are good practice for mental gymnastics. This is my third.
I would love to go back to both of those places. Living in the center of the country makes it just that much harder to fly to Europe. When we were in Boston, our waitress said that she flies to Ireland pretty often. It’s only five hours away. What??? I would go too!
I did lose sleep in one of the hotels. There were lights right outside the room and I kept thinking it was morning. 🙂 There’s no place like home!
Thanks for the Facebook shout!